Ask and You Shall Receive!

For a long while now I have been learning about peace and contentment. It's sometimes hard to have either, but you need one to have the other. I asked God to teach me about peace and contentment as I plodded along on this journey. He said "ask and ye shall receive"! I was getting the peace thing down pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good. So I moved on to the contentment. This must have pleased God that I wanted to learn something about contentment so much that He decided to give me a hands-on lesson. The first thing I learned is that contentment (and peace for that matter) has nothing to do with my circumstances and everything to do with God being in control. The hands-on learning began this weekend when I discovered several large charges to my account that I didn't make myself. The lesson included several phone calls and visits to the bank and the police station. Even though I was stressed about the situation I still felt a stillness in my heart, a confidence if you will, that God had it all under control--even if the outcome was negative. I knew this feeling wasn't from me or anything that I could work up. Now, I am the one that is calm when everyone else is freaking out. But that's not to say that I am not capable of my own freaking out episode. I just mean that trying as this has been, I had peace and contentment that I would not have normally. I even slept well the night after I found out about this little bit of thievery! So I trust that God has it all under control. The good and the bad. Though stress and anxiety is a normal human emotion, peace and contentment is possible through it all. Through Him.

Hold My Hand

Last weekend I watched another friend lay her child to rest. Gut wrenching for anyone, especially Moms I think. Age of the child is no factor in the loss. I have been to funerals for infants, teens, and those in their fifties and sixties and the hearts of the parents are crushed regardless of how long they had their child with them.

My best friend lost her son at 19. He was my son's best friend and spent many hours at our house. I don't know what it feels like to lose a child (thank you, God), but that was as close as I care to come. One of the songs that was played at his funeral was played at this funeral last weekend. When I heard it I felt like I couldn't breathe. All of the sudden I was attending two funerals. It was just too much for me and I had to go out.

I don't know why these things happen. I don't know how anyone could get through that without the Lord. Where could you go for comfort or strength or peace? I don't see any other possible source.

"I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says, "Do not fear, I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

BEAUTY IS SNOW WHITE

I am captured again for the second time in two weeks by the beauty of the snowfall. The snow is so white and clean. There is a stillness in the air as the flakes float through the sky. The ground is covered in a blanket of soft purity. All the surronding countryside stands still and seems to hold its breath.

Pardon me for waxing poetic. Why am I so taken with the white stuff? Well, because I live in Alabama. We RARELY ever get any snow above a flurry. This year we have had two very significant snow events within two weeks of each other. The day after Christmas we got almost two inches. January 9th brought another 4 to 6 inches here.

I know that may be nothing to you depending on where you live, but we here in the South are totally unprepared for such weather. With half an inch of snow on the ground and everything closes including the roads. We can't drive in this beautiful icy stuff that so gracefully covers everything in sight. Snow plows are few and very far between down in these parts.

Each time this rare event occurs, I am absolutely fascinated with it. The snowy blanket that covers the ground always reminds me of God's forgiveness and how His mercy washes us clean so that our hearts are pure. The quiet stillness in the air brings with it a reverence that I liken to the feeling I get whenever I enter into communion with my heavenly Father in prayer. Knowing that each snowflake is different from the next is a reminder of God's endless creativity. Sitting in my window looking out at the snowcovered countryside I appreciate again the beauty of my Creator. I am thankful for eyes to see this snow white beauty.

Take time to pause a moment and appreciate whatever beauty is around you right now. Thank God for the experience and for your ability to enjoy it.

New Year Do Over

It's a new year today. I feel like I am getting a do over. Really I am not because the choices I've made follow me into the new year. But I always feel like the slate is wiped clean at the end of each year.
One of the goals I have set for myself this year is to memorize more scripture. To hold myself accountable to someone, I joined Beth Moore and the other siestas on her Living Proof Ministries blog. Twice a month we each post our scripture verses that we will be working on. Siestas (sisters) encourage each other on the journey and celebrate with one another at the end of each year.
I logged on this moring just three hours after Beth's first post was up. We were to each log on and post our first scripture and Bible version. In just that short time there were already 22 pages of comments. As I write this there are 75 pages and 3,900 posts. There are probably alot more posts awaiting moderation. WOW! That's a lot of women making scripture memorization a priority this year.
As I scanned down the pages reading the scriptures that were posted tears came to my eyes. It was so touching. All those women trusting God, trying to grow closer to Him. Some hurting and struggling. Some just trying to find more peace and joy. What a marvelous thing our God is doing and will do in our lives this year! I am so glad to begin this journey. Hope you will joing me.

What Makes Me Happy

There are few things that make me truly happy besides my God and my family. Teaching the children at our church, a huge VBS each summer, and having a packed children's department on Sunday mornings are a few things that do go a long way to making me happy. Today as I went from room to room and saw how each one was full of happy kids and teachers, my heart was warmed. I was filled with excitment that lasted all day long.
There is just something about seeing those kids actively engaged in learning and enjoying being at church that makes a wave of excitment sweep over the whole department. Having five new visitors just added to the whole experience. Teachers were smiling and thrilled. Games were going great. Lessons were going great. Yes, it was a great day! (Well there was this one little girl who decide to try and find her mother all by herself. But, that's another story.)
I love this feeling. I wish that I could hang on to it, have it every Sunday. But ministry is not always exciting and sometimes is down right hard. I wouldn't trade this for anything though. Next Sunday I will arrive with a sense of anticipation. Will that excitment fill our children and teachers? I pray that it will. There is nothing that compares to serving our Lord.

Passing Thoughts

My brother-in-law passed away one week ago today. He was diagnosed with Alzheimers in February of this year. He had progressed so fast that his wife was about to have to put him in a nursing home. She had called and started the admitting procedures, but he died that very evening. I regret that he passed away and left his family. However I am so grateful that he is no longer suffering. He won't have to live in a nursing home. That is a great comfort to me and my husband.
Our three-year-old granddaughter ask what happened to him. Not knowing exactly what to say to her, I just told her that he was asleep. Later on during the service she was sitting on my lap as a PowerPoint slideshow began to play on the screen at the front of the church. She looked up at the pictures of my brother-in-law and said, "OH! He woke up!" "Yes, he did." I thought to myself. He really did. He went to sleep here and woke up in heaven.
At times like these my faith is a great comfort to me. I believe the Bible and what it teaches us about Heaven, God, and Jesus. I know that someday I will also go to Heaven because Jesus is my Savior and he died to pay the payment for my sins. I will see my brother-in-law again as well as all those I have known who have passed on before me. I will also see my Jesus and thank Him for all He has done for me.
If you have any questions about my faith, just ask. I will do my best to answer. This same comfort is available to everyone.

Connections

I love to read. Recently I read "Visioneering" by Andy Stanley and "A Journey to Victorious Praying" by Bill Thrasher. That may seem a strange pair without any connection. I would agree--until. Until I had finished both the books and saw how the book on prayer would actually help me with the visoneering.
In the book "Visioneering" I was lead to develop a vision for every area in life--not just ministry. A vision is just how you want your family, your job, your life, your whatever to be. Then you take steps to realize that vision. In the book "A Journey to Victorious Praying" I learned how to take trials, temptations, and struggles and turn them into opportunities to pray. Like when I am tempted to eat even when I am not really hungry (emotional eating), then I stop and pray for people all over the world who are hungry even starving and people who don't have enough to eat. My temptation then becomes an opportunity to pray.
So, here's the trick. Whenever I begin to worry about people or situations that I cannot change, I turn to the Lord in prayer and pray for that person and situation. When I am discouraged about minsitry, I pray for the children and parents to which I minister. I pray for the ministry volunteers. I add in a little prayer for myself too! :) These prayers will help me realize my visions.
Try this, it really works!

What's Really Important

A few years ago I traveled to Lima, Peru on a mission trip. I met a wonderful Christian lady there who was ministering to the children in her neighborhood. She would pay their bus fare so they could attend church when she could. Other times she would teach them in her tiny home on a dirt hillside. That is where I met her, with her house full of kids and tracing color sheets with a pencil and carbon tracing paper one at a time. Her only other equipment was her Bible.

That was where I learned what was really important. It wasn't the huge children's ministry building with fantastic themed rooms and hallways. It wasn't the huge resource closet or the technology. It wasn't even the large numbers of kids who attend some churches who have those things. It was, however, the willingness to love those kids and see their lives transformed by a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was the willingness to be used by God and to use what He had already blessed our ministry with to the fullest extent of our abilities.

God has blessed us with some resources that I never thought we would have in our ministry. We still have no building or themed rooms. We use what space we can. We do our best with what we have. I believe because we do, that God will bless us beyond our wildest dreams. We are keeping our focus on what is most important--that kids know Jesus as their Savior and they follow Him.

What's God Up To Now?

A few years ago at a Ladies Retreat, I was challenged to "step out into deeper water with God". The speaker meaning to challenge us to surrender to whatever God may want to do in our lives if we would only allow Him. I responded to that challenge and, as they say, life has never been the same. I have been to places and done things that I could never even imagined. God is constantly pushing me beyond my comfort zone.
Last night our Student Minister challenged our congregation to "not be scared" to do what God wants us to do. I had to confess that I am scared to do some things that God wants me to do. Funny, it's the little things that scare me--not the big things like traveling to a foreign country or speaking in front of a large group of people. Confessing this to God in my prayer I also told God that I didn't want to be scared to obey him and miss out on opportunities that He has for me.
I know that feeling. That feeling that I get when I can tell that God is up to something. I know it's coming. I don't know what or when, but it is coming. I will be scared. I will also seize the opportunity because I know that afterwards I will love the adventure. The thrill will be just like a rollercoaster! That's my Heavenly Father--never a dull moment.

Good News and Bad News

I have just returned from a week of Youth Camp. Our group went to a children's home where we did several landscaping projects. We also spent time with the young people living there. Our youth worked really hard and I am very proud of them. It really was a great week! That's the good news.
As I was catching up on emails and blogs that I read regularly, I came across a post that really bothered me. One of the really good blogs that I have recently come across is ending, perhaps. That's the bad news. She wrote that she was no longer going to post because she proclaimed her self a failure at children's ministry. Her church and in particular her department has sharply declined over time. She just feels that she has nothing further to offer. Such a shame because I have gotten several good ideas from this site. I hope she will reconsider and continue encouraging and equipping others in children's ministry.
We all get discouraged sometimes. I know I do. But we must stay the course and be faithful to the call God has placed on our lives. Sometimes these times come to us in order to force us to re-evaluate our priorities. Sometimes these times come to make us check up to see if we are still depending on our own selves instead of God. Sometimes they come to make us stronger. Regardless of the reason, stand firm in faith and keep on moving down the path God has placed before you. Remember, "He that hath begun a good work in you shall complete it...."

Black Friday Shopping

I got up at 4:30 a.m. after going to bed at 1:00 a.m. I couldn't believe that I was actually going to do this. I got ready with my eyes still practically closed. Tommy was shopping for a new huge television that he wanted. I went along to pick up just a few things. I stood in line for an hour at our first stop. After the next couple of stops I stood in line again for an hour, but now I was getting excited. I was beginning to find more and more things for my family. Maybe shopping is some fun after all. I guess it is the thrill of bargain hunting or the thought of getting some one special that special gift that they will love. Any way, I guess losing sleep was worth it after all.

Could God get any better?

I have set a goal. My goal is to make my theology and my reality match.I have seen God really work in my life (and those around me) so much lately. I want to believe what I say that I believe and live like I believe it. You know (to take a line from Beth Moore) to believe God is who He says He is and to believe God can do what He says He can do. He is working big things in my life just to show me that I can believe Him. He is working tons of little things that would mean nothing to anyone but me. Please know that I am not talking about believing there is a God or believing for salvation. I mean a faith or trust that He knows what is best for me and that is what He wants for me and for me to trust Him for these things(circumstances, relationships, etc.) to come into my life.
He has reminded me that life must be intentional. I cannot wait around for the things that I want in my life or my mininstry to come about--hoping they will happen. I must pray and plan for them to happen. My new mantra: pray for it, plan for it, watch for it to happen! All things to be in His will of course and in His time. For example if I want to take a trip then I must pray and the plan for the trip, then save up the money and make the arrangements for the trip. I can't just wish I could take the trip and hope that someday it will happen as if by accident or something.
Any way, I am just thanking Him for His goodness and all the answered prayers, big ones and little ones!